Chennai College lane !! to be renamed - Jai Shankar Salai !!!

·        Francis Whyte Ellis (1777–1819) was a British civil servant in the Madras Presidency and a scholar of Tamil and Sanskrit. 

·        Of the few movies I watched, remember seeing ‘Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam’  directed by Chimbu Deven, starring Raghava Lawrence, Padmapriya, Lakshmi Rai, and Sandhya – I was really impressed. 

·        In my school days, came ‘Gayathri’ – a movie made on Sujatha novel – starring Rajnikanth and Sridevi. The protagonist would be taking blue films and would marry the heroine cheating her ! 

·        A day before my Half-yearly examination, remember seeing ‘Murattu Kaalai’ – in Devi Paradise.  

·        Indian Cricket team toured South Africa in 1992 playing 4 tests and 7 ODIs – in ODI 772 -    Kapil Dev "mankaded" Peter  Kirsten, the non-striker, backing up too far before the ball was delivered. Apparently, Kapil Dev had warned Kirsten at least twice in the earlier matches.    Pacer Brett Schultz would remember that match for wrong reasons as it was his only appearance in an ODI.  

What would connect the above with the Chennai Corporation resolution in renaming ‘College Road’ after famous actor ‘Jai Shankar’. 

 

The GCC passed a resolution in the council meeting on Monday to rename a park in Manali to Muthamizh Aringar Kalaignar Poonga, and the famous College    and the famous College Road in Nungambakkam to Jaishankar Road, after the yesteryear hero of Tamil films. Actor’s son, Professor Vijay Shankar of Sankara Nethralaya, wrote a petition to CM Stalin to rename the College Road in Nungambakkam to Jaishankar Road. 

One would not dare to ask – what is in a Name ? – renaming Street, Place names is nothing new !   A street name that has been around for two hundred years lends a certain gravitas and character to a place. A colonial name in Egmore or George Town speaks of the area’s colonial history.  Not very many years ago - Madras Presidency was renamed Madras State;  Madras State or Madras Rajdhani became Tamilnadu;  Madras the capital of the State was renamed Chennai.  Some of the roads in the City which have been renamed would include : 

•           Mount Road to Anna Salai.

•           Edward Elliot Road to Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai

•           Elliot's Beach Road to Sardar Patel Road

•           Mowbray's Road to  T.T.K Road after Thiruvallur Thattai Krishnamachari

•           Nungambakkam High Road to Mahatma Gandhi Salai.

•           Warren Road to Bhaktavatsalam Salai

•           Lloyds Road to Avvai Shanmugam Salai

•           Oliver Road to Musiri Subramaniam Salai

•           Pycrofts Road to Bharathi Salai

•           Bells road to Babu Jagjivan salai

•           Griffith Road to Maharajapuram Santhanam Road

•           Beach Road became 'Kamarajar Salai

•           Royapettah High Road became Thiru Vi Ka Salai after Vriddachalam Kalyanasunduram

•           LB [Lattice Bridge] Road became Dr.Muthulakshmi Salai

 

So in due course College Road would be better known as – Jaishankar Road !! 

 

Jaishankar (born Shankar Subramaniyan Iyer)  (1938-2000) was a notable lead actor in the 1960s and 70s, who was credited onscreen with title of Makkal Kalaingnar (people's artiste) and  also referred to as Thennakathu James Bond (South Indian James Bond) because of his roles in films such as Vallavan Oruvan and CID Shankar 

The first named Francis Ellis became a writer in the East India Company's service at Madras in 1796. He ascended the ladder much faster and in  1806 he was appointed judge of the zillah of Machilipatnam, in 1809 collector of land customs in the Madras presidency, and in 1810 collector of Madras. Ellis first published his notion about the South Indian languages forming a separate language family in a "Note to Introduction" for his protege Alexandar Duncan Campbell's Telugu Grammar in 1816 

While stationed at Madras, Ellis became interested in the history and languages of India. He was a member of the Member of the Madras Literary Society and the founder of the College of Fort St. George at Madras - an institution which had both British and Indian members.  The college was founded in 1812 and the next year Ellis also helped set up the College Press by supplying it with a printing press and Tamil types. Telugu types, printing ink and labour for the venture was supplied by the Superintendent of Government Press at Egmore.  The College road was named after this College. 

             In January 1851 AD, Dr. Edward Balfour, Medical Officer of the Governor's Body guard  started the Madras Government Museum. The Government Museum was started in the College of Fort St. George, in the premises of the present office of the Director of Public Instruction, on College Road.  

 

Moving away from colonial History to Movies -  Jaishankar, hailed from Kumbakonam, but was born in Thirunelveli to parents Subramaniyan Iyer who was the Judge of Thirunelveli court and Yogambal on 12 July 1938.  He studied at  P.S. Higher Secondary School, Mylapore, and completed his graduation from The New College, Chennai. He joined Cho Ramaswamy's "Cho's Viveka Fine Arts", which consisted mostly of Mylaporeans where he did insignificantly small roles and moved out later. In an era dominated by Sivaji Ganesan, MG Ramachandran and Gemini Ganesan, he created his own niche with portrayals of Westernised characters. He was popularly known as South Indian James Bond because of his roles as the investigative detective in Vallavan Oruvan and CID Shankar. 

His debut was in  ‘Iravum Pagalum’ (1965) in which he was christened Jaishankar. The low budget movie produced by Citadel Productions and directed by Thaliath JR. also had a pretty new face, T.K.S. Vasantha and did well in box office.  Jai Shanakr  was hero for many of Modern Theatres’ thrillers — ‘Iru Vallavargal’ (1966), ‘Vallavan Oruvan’ (1966), ‘Kaadalithaal Podhuma’ (1967), ‘Naangu Killadigal’ (1969), ‘CID Shankar’ (1970), ‘Karundhel Kannaayiram’ (1972) and others. Jai’s hits in other genres include ‘Pattanathil Bootham’ (1967, directed by editor turned noted multilingual filmmaker M.V. Raman and written by Javer Seetharaman), ‘Nilagiri Express’ (1968, written by Cho),   ‘Nil-Gavani-Kaadhali’ (1969, directed by C.V. Rajendran and written by Chitralaya Gopu), ‘Poovaa Thalaiya’ written and directed by K. Balachandar,   ‘Nootruku Nooru’ (1971, written and directed by K. Balachandar ) to mention a few. 

After acting as the main hero for many years, in Gayathri, where Rajnikanth had a negative role of taking blue films- Jai Shankar donned the famous Ganesh of Sujatha trying to help out Sridevi, the heroine.

 

AVM Productions’ Murattu Kaalai released in 1980 was a block-buster fro Rajinikanth changing his fortunes as Kaalaiyan, the villager who fights the zamindar, which was played by Jai Shankar, yes, Jai the once famous hero as villain.  The climax fight scene on moving train between Rajni and Jai was much acclaimed. In later years, he acted with many other actors cast in lesser roles.   

The second mentioned - ‘Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam’ -  released in 2010, directed by Chimbu Deven, starring choreographer-turned-actor Raghava Lawrence was a great parody of many Western treasure-hunt movies.  The movie was set in two fictional villages -   Jaishankarpuram and Ashokapuram,   named after Jaishankar and Ashokan, who respectively played the hero and the villain in Ganga, which was first of the western Genre in India.  The town of Jayshankarapuram, home of Tamil-speaking cowboys, is ruled by a one-eyed tyrant named Kizhakku Kattai (Clint Eastwood!)  who rules over other villages as well, and is always surrounded by his assistants: a cowgirl named Pakki and an outlaw named Ulakkai. In order to free their town from Kattai's rule, Bilagiri James, Dagelandi, Jada, and Viruma travel to a neighboring town, Sholaypuram, to seek out a savior.  The villagers at Jayashankarapuram find a map that is hidden in their "MGR Timesquare", but it is only one half they have.   Singaram and the folks find the treasure in an Indiana Jones-esque adventure.    

Concluding with that reference to ODI in South Africa, you may not find that ODI no. 772 if you are to google as Port Elizabeth ODI as the famous place - Port Elizabeth was renamed Gqeberha in February 2021 as part of a broader effort to replace colonial-era place names with indigenous names in South Africa. The  name, Gqeberha, is the Xhosa name for the Baakens River, which flows through the city. This renaming reflected a move to decolonize South Africa's landscape and honor the country's diverse cultural heritage. 

So from the fictional Jaishankarpuram, we sooner would have a real Jaishankar Salai in Chennai.!

PS :  Amid social media uproar over renaming, reports quoting  Greater Chennai Corporation  state  that it is  not College Road, but College Lane, that is being renamed after veteran actor Jaishankar. College Lane is a quiet street opposite the DPI, connecting to Anderson Road, where the actor once lived.  

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
31.7.2025 

dilapidated structure ! - some history behind !!

Greenery is good – but not on a building -  perhaps this building hides some interesting past ! ... now dilapidated !  (taken a few years ago !)

 

41 Thatha Muthiappan Street - that runs perpendicular from Broadway (after loan square) towards Mint Street, Govindappa Naicken street 

Butterfly challenging nature !

 

No race on who is beautiful ! – the green fresh leaves and the contoured butterfly !!

பட்டாம்பூச்சியும் இயற்கையும் - சிறகுகளை விரிக்கும் போது - அழகு இன்னமும் அதிகமாக பொழிகிறதோ !!

சிவப்பு மூக்கு ஆள்காட்டி ~ Red Wattled Lapwing

 

Just like every other common person – I can easily recognize (among birds) – Crows, Pigeons, Parrots, Mynah .. .. !!  - so this little bird was intriguing and Google photo search named it !!!! 

The one photographed here are reportedly ground birds,  active at night too.  They are known to be territorial and will dive and call noisily at potential predators, including aircraft.  Though small ones, they are   categorized as a high-risk species for bird strikes to aircrafts, meaning they pose a significant threat to aircraft safety.   What ! such a little one, can it pose some damage to that mega big aluminum bird ! 

It is Lapwing – belonging to the subfamily Vanellinae; it is among the various ground-nesting birds (hailing from family Charadriidae) similar to plovers and dotterels. Their length stretches from 10 to 16 inches, well-recognized for its slow, noncontinuous wingbeats in flight and a shrill, and a wailing cry.

 

சிவப்பு மூக்கு ஆள்காட்டி [Red Wattled Lapwing] எனப்படும் பறவை. தமிழில் சிவப்பு மூக்கு ஆள்காட்டி அல்லது ஆள்காட்டி குருவி என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. இந்த பறவை மனிதர்களையோ அல்லது எதிரிகளையோ கண்டால் உரத்த குரலில் ஒலி எழுப்பி எச்சரிக்கும் இயல்புடையது. அதனால் ஆள்காட்டி என்ற பெயர். இந்த பறவை தரையில் முட்டையிட்டு அடைகாக்கும்.  

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements and the sounds are variously rendered, leading to the colloquial name of did-he-do-it bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water, they sometimes form large aggregations in the non-breeding season (winter). They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults near the nest fly around, diving at potential predators while calling noisily. The cryptically patterned chicks hatch and immediately follow their parents to feed, hiding by lying low on the ground or in the grass when threatened. 

Traditionally well known to native hunters, the red-wattled lapwing was first described in a book by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in his Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux in 1781.  The bird was also illustrated in a hand-coloured plate engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet in the Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle produced under the supervision of Edme-Louis Daubenton to accompany Buffon's text.  Neither the plate nor Buffon's description included a scientific name but in 1783 the Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert used the binomial name Tringa indica in his catalogue of the Planches Enluminées.  It is a diminutive of the Latin vanus meaning "winnowing" or "fan". The specific epithet indicus is the Latin for "India". 

The local names are mainly onomatopoeic in origin and include titahri (Hindi), titawi (Marathi), tittibha (Kannada), tateehar (Sindhi), titodi (Gujarati), hatatut (Kashmiri), balighora (Assamese), yennappa chitawa (Telugu), aal-kaati (Tamil, meaning "human indicator"). 

In parts of India, a local belief is that the bird sleeps on its back with the legs upwards and an associated Hindi metaphor Titahri se asman thama jayega ("can the lapwing support the heavens?") is used to refer to persons undertaking tasks beyond their ability or strength. The Bhils of Malwa believed that the laying of eggs by red-wattled lapwings in the dry beds of streams as forewarnings of delayed rains or droughts. Eggs laid on the banks on the other hand were taken as indications of normal rains.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
31.7.2025

தாவணி போட்ட தீபாவளி !!

விஷால், மீரா ஜாஸ்மின் ஆட - யுகபாரதி வரிகளில், விஜய் யேசுதாஸ், ஸ்ரேயா கோஷல் குரலில் - சண்டக்கோழி  பட பாடலை கேட்டு ரசித்து இருப்பீர்கள் 

.. .. அந்த தாவணி போட்ட தீபாவளி தான் இங்கே !

 

தாவணி போட்ட தீபாவளி… வந்தது என் வீட்டுக்கு…

கை மொளச்சி கால் மொளச்சி… ஆடுது என் பாட்டுக்கு…

கண்ணா கண்ணா மூச்சு… என் கன்னா பின்னா பேச்சு…

பட்டாம் பட்டாம் பூச்சி… என் பக்கம் வந்து போச்சு…

இரவும் வருது பகலும் வருது… எனக்கு தெரியல…

இந்த அழகு சரிய… மனசு எரிய கணக்கு புரியல…

 

Painting of that Srirangathu devathai in half-saree – photographed at Victoria Technical Institute, Mountroad, Chennai, priced around Rs.22,000/-  [don’t run to buy now ! – shop closes around 8.30 pm – there is always the tomorrow] 

30.7.2025

நான் ஒரு விளையாட்டு பொம்மையா !!

Tip-top would mean well dressed.  In general, Men like to go to workplace, well dressed !  Yesterday I had posted this and queried  - Can you imagine – who this well dressed person is !!

 

No person that – simply a ‘thunikkadai bommai’ (mannequin in a shop) – many a times have observed that women get attracted to the dress displayed on the bommai

 

Strange are the ways of the people !!
 
30.7.2025 

An Appeal ! ~ SYMA seeks your financial support 2025-26

 

SYMA seeks your financial support

for   Medical Centre and Education projects 2025-26

 

 Dear Friends & well wishers of SYMA

·        Do you recall  those olden  days, especially   June – the best dress that we had was the Uniform !!

·        Police,   Army, Medical professionals, Civic  Workers, school students  and more  -  the uniting factor is Uniform which has been in vogue for centuries but systematized in last century.

·        Uniform brings in a sense of equality and ensure children attend classes with dignity

·        Even in the metropolis where – Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Rangerovers, Fortuners, are seen competing with  Audi, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes Benz are seen on the road, otherwise occupied by Innovas, Kia, Maruti, Hyundai, Skoda, Volkswagen and the like - there are parents who cannot provide good quality clothes and quality education for their children !!

·         Having reached some position in life, many of us want to give back something to the society, helping them in some way – here is our humble effort.

செந்நாப்போதாரின் வாய்மொழியில் கல்வியின் சிறப்பு :

கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் கல்வி யொருவற்கு

மாடல்ல மற்றை யவை.

ஒருவனுக்கு அழிவு இல்லாத சிறந்த செல்வம் கல்வியே ஆகும், கல்வியைத் தவிர மற்றப் பொருள்கள் (அத்தகைய சிறப்புடைய) செல்வம் அல்ல!  கல்விதான் சமுதாயத்தையே மாற்ற வல்லது. 

Please do read this – together we will change the way some students attend school. 

A few years ago, World came to a standstill almost – people remained indoor due to dreaded Corona virus Covid 19.  All that is a thing of the past as in  Tamil Nadu, as elsewhere, after almost 2 years of Corona  – Schools reopened,   now we have almost forgotten the dreaded pandemic.  Month of June infuses fresh energy in students as the Academic year starts -  Students are  happy in attending classes physically wearing fresh and new uniform with newer hopes of a bright future.  

Srinivas Youngmen’s Association (popularly SYMA)  has been doing service to the society ever since 1977.  Our  services engulf  various lines such as civic welfare, medicine, health, environment, education, personality development more.     We at SYMA, feel strongly the primary responsibility of improving the Society and helping the underprivileged.   

1) Medical Centre and Laboratory run for the poor wherein free consultation and medicines are provided – popularly known as ரெண்டு ரூவா மருத்துவமனை  [Rs. 2 hospital !] –  more than 13000  patients benefitted last year.   We  have a Medical lab (technical support of Neuberg Ehrlich) where blood and other tests are done at very nominal costs.  WE have Physiotheraphy and Ultrasound scan as well.  We also have some Specialists offering consultation on specified days on appointment. An Eye clinic is run by Pammal Sankara Hospital in our premises.

The cost of medicines alone is Rs.3 lakhs per year – with overall cost of the Medical centre – approx Rs.22 lakhs (including Dr salary, Staff salary, maintenance, rent, electricity .. ..lab expenses)

2)   SYMA Growth – a purposeful special tuition centre for coaching poor students of 10th and 12th standards.  Into its 18^th  year now, this was inaugurated in  2008 and producing good results year after year, changing the lives of poor children.  The current Academic year started auspiciously with a pooja on 16.7.2025.  This year we have enrolled around 80 students aiming to have only 20 students per class to ensure more one-to-one interaction and personalized tutoring.   The project cost is approx Rs.15 lakhs.

Education is the only thing that can change the lives of children coming from lower echelons of society.  We firmly believe that only quality education can improve them and ensure their moving to a higher echelon.  For making students attend schools with dignity, we have been providing uniforms for more than 2 decades now.  This year we have provided more than  1000  sets of unstitched uniforms to poor students.  Schools and students have been identified and the process is already on.   A set of uniform would cost Rs.1200/- approx..  We seek your support for a few sets from your side.  

Our Tuition Centre SYMA Growth – runs at an annual expenditure of Rs.15 lakhs approx. and this year, we have plans of extending.  Generally, we collect funds in the months of  July & ahead coinciding with our Educational Aid Programme, though donations are welcome throughout the year. You have patronized us in a big way in the past, and we look forward to receiving your donations this year too. 

Cheques are to be drawn in the name of  ‘SRINIVAS YOUNGMENS ASSOCIATION’  (or simply SYMA)– payable at Chennai. In case any donor wishes to make a Bank transfer, details are available below.  One can also scan the QR code and pay us !!  Contributions to SYMA are eligible for deduction under Sec 80G (5) (vi) of Income Tax Act, as applicable.  

Here are the details of our Current Account with Punjab National Bank:- 

A/c Name: SRINIVAS YOUNGMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Punjab National Bank  :   Current A/c No. 0346002100024570,

Triplicane Branch, Singarachari St. Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.

RTGS/NEFT IFS Code : PUNB0034600 MICR Code : 600024015 

We generally collect funds once a year during June/ July  for our Educational programs and other annual programs – donations are welcome throughout the year.  Seek your donations – it can be as little as Rs.1000/-  or in multiples of thousands or

·        Rs.2500/- notionally for 2 uniform sets

·        Rs.20000/-- a day’s contribution for medical centre

·        Rs.25000/- Dhanvantri scheme for Medical centre (Name will be displayed on Board at Centre and a day’s expenses on a nominated day

·        Rs.100000/- towards Corpus Fund (name etched at the Reception of Medical centre)

This year on 13.7.2025 (Sunday) we conducted our Educational Aid Function.  In the event, we distributed more than 1000 sets of Uniforms, honoured School toppers of schools of Triplicane, distributed financial aid to deserving students (30 College students @ Rs.10000/- each and 5 school students @ Rs.5000/- each).  Many of the recipients were students who had earlier studied in our Tuition centre – SYMA Growth.   

The Chief Guest for this colourful function was Hon’ble Justice (Retd.)  P.N. Prakash, of the Madras High  Court and Dr K Sridhar, (renowned Plastic Surgeon) our patron, guiding force behind our Medical Centre.

Thank you – together we will strive in making this Society a much better place to live in.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
Vice-President (SYMA)
30.7.2025.  

For more details of SYMA – please log on to : www.syma.in  ; or email us at : srinivasyoungmensassociation@yahoo.co.in. 

·         To those of you, who have already contributed to SYMA this year, this communication  is not to seek additional donation but only to say thanks again.

·         To those who effect bank transfer  - please do email me (allikkeni@gmail.com) or do send SMS / message by WA – we will require some details for accounting and for sending receipts to you.

the Horse View !!

 

If there is bird's eye  view ! - is there an equine view ?? – the Horse sense !!

 

Happiness is a state of mind !! - the kids !!!

 

 

Happiness is a state of mind .. ..

 

1)      have you ever seen so many happy faces in city schools ! [taken at Thirukkurungudi with students going for midday meal break, a decade ago]

2)      Modern day kids feel merrier when in front of Camera  (though they may not even get to see this photo) – effect of social media !!

A sweet result called 'DRAW' at Manchester and the Stokes drama !!

It is a game – a religion in India – we grew up seeing and hearing Test matches – slowly were introduced to Limited overs (ODIs) and then came T20 .. .. and of course IPL.  Those who are still addicted to Test Cricket call themselves ‘Connoisseurs’ of the game – they have been watching matches for 5 days (sometimes 6 too !!) – result was not the only thing – this breed could watch the game meandering towards a tame end ! – No result too – called ‘DRAW’ !!  

India played their first Test match, against England at Lord's, in 1932, and was not a force to reckon with for many decades.  Statistically India has played 593 Tests and have won 182; lost 186; one Chepauk Test against Aussies was Tied and 224 were drawn !!  There have been so many drawn matches (224 !) – some were lifeless, some affected by rain, some insipid performances and some .. .. nail-baiting ends though no team actually won !  - wonder, how it could be ??? 

Back in July 1936, exactly on this day (July 28) India’s 2^nd test of the Series against England at Manchester ended in a draw.  India was bowled out for 203; England made massive 571/8 decl – but Indians fought gamely in 2^nd ending up at 390/5.  Creditable indeed.   In striking contrast to what occurred in the earlier test at  Lord's – this one produced several fine individual batting performances on either side. Hammond on his return to the England team was at the top of his form in hitting a faultless 167 and when India batted a second time Merchant and Mushtaq Ali, scoring 203 together, set up a record first-wicket partnership against England in England.   

Decades later witnessed Test no. 918 at Chepauk when Krish Srikkanth was dropped and Pranab Roy (who ?) debuted and partnered Sunil Gavaskar.  Ashok Malhothra touted to be in Gundappa Viswanath mould also made his debut.  That was a Pongal test in 1982.   It was dull dreary though we enjoyed as Indians made runs.  Gundappa Vishwanath played a long innings scoring 222 surpassing Gavaskar’s 221 at Oval.  Graham Gooch too hit a hundred.   For India's third wicket, 415 runs were added by three batsmen: Viswanath, the common denominator, Vengsarkar, who was obliged to retire hurt at 150 when he ducked into a low-flying bouncer from Willis, and Yashpal Sharma, who in 492 minutes of stolid accumulation helped Viswanath add the remaining 316. The entire stand, scored at 3.44 an over, spanned ten and a quarter hours.  The 316 put on by Viswanath and Yashpal was a third-wicket record for India in all Tests, and the highest for any wicket in Tests between England and India. Viswanath batted for 632 minutes, a wristy, rounded innings.   

Years later on Dec 31 1984 was another drawn test.  Mohammad Azharuddin debuted and scored a century. Smog and rain, which restricted play to twenty minutes on the second day, followed by Gavaskar's perverse decision to continue India's innings from 417 for seven at lunch time on the fourth, made certain of a pointless and tedious draw. Gavaskar's lack of ambition, or evident direction, while Azharuddin and Shastri were adding 214 for the fifth wicket at under 2 runs an over, so incensed the crowd that there were fears a riot might develop.  .. .. and Kapil Dev the greatest allrounder had been dropped – citing indiscipline in shot selection in the previous test at Kotla where he was the top scorer in the 1^st innings ! 

The present Series has been enthralling.  The young inexperienced Indian team criticized by some before leaving the shores as the most weak team has shone, especially in batting front.  They have scored runs and played well – the scoreline of 1-2 in 4 tests is not a true reflection.  Much credit would go to Ben Stokes, an elite competitor, who has made runs and has bowled zestfully, more than he usually does.  With back to back Player of the match awards, he has now won 12 !  but lacks grace and feels that British are still ruling the colonies. 

Perhaps he has not been alone – so many English Cricketers, Commentators, Sports writers, News media and commoners feel and behave brash many a times.  On day 5 at 4^th test at Manchester - towards the end – it  all started with Ben Stokes approaching the on-field umpires, Rod Tucker and Ahsan Raza, and the two batters, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, to call the game off. There was only one possible result, a draw. The two Indian batters politely  refused as they were close to their respective centuries and the verbal barrage flowed.

 

Stokes brashly asked  Jadeja, “You want to get a hundred against Harry Brook?” The England captain took the specialist bowlers out of the attack, and the rest of the game saw bowling from Brook and Joe Root.  “You hold your hands up, they played incredibly well,” Stokes said. “But I don’t think there would have been too much more satisfaction from walking off 100 not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80, 90 not out. That’s what you’ve done for your team.  

The teams had been at it for hours, days. At that stage, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja had withstood everything England could throw at them. They were 80 not out and 89 not out, respectively. Washington has previously run out of partners on 85 and 96 in Tests. This would be his maiden Test hundred.  Ben had his options, he could have bowled himself, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Carse, Dawson or Root .. .. but when the draw offer was not accepted, he threw tantrums much like a school child.    

There is no specific morally superior way of playing the game. The laws of the game clearly say you can't consider a game over until the overs are bowled or both captains have agreed on ending the game prematurely.  England felt they were right in offering a draw and India rightly felt that it was  well within their  rights to let the two rescuers go on and have a moment of personal glory on top of a gigantic effort in the absence of their best batter of the last five years, Rishabh Pant.  

Gambhir was categoric. “If someone is batting on 90 and the other one is batting on 85, don’t they deserve a hundred? Would they have walked off? If someone from the England side would have been batting on 90 or 85, if someone had the opportunity to get his first Test hundred, wouldn’t you allow him to do it, if they weathered the storm? It’s up to them. If they want to play that way, that’s up to them. I’ve got nothing more to say.”  

Australian media showed no mercy to England and captain Ben Stokes after their frustration turned into farce when India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar stalled the offer to shake hands and end the match as they neared their centuries. England’s “moral hypocrisy” was called out, with Stokes branded a “tantrum-thrower” as Aussie media slammed the Poms for whinging about the ‘Spirit of Cricket’.  

Fox Cricket took aim with a headline that read “Spirit… of what? How pompous England exposed Bazball’s great double standard.” The article slammed England’s moral posturing: "England bang on about the Laws of the Game, as written by the MCC at Lord’s. But when opposition teams follow those laws to England’s disadvantage? Time to awaken the ‘Spirit’ again. Give it a prod. Shake some sense into them. Play fair, old boy!"  

Brisbane Times ran a scathing piece titled “Spare us the whinging, England. The only thing embarrassing about Old Trafford was your tantrum.” It highlighted how England, the self-proclaimed saviours of Test cricket, now appear more focused on results than entertainment—an irony not lost on even Steve Smith.   

England who had won a limited Overs World Cup with a throw hitting the bat and going for four and winning by scoring more 4s in the match !  complained about two Indian batsmen getting hundred – calling it just an individual landmark. 

Whatever it be – this was a thrilling draw ! – a result that came from nowhere, when an England win was a foregone conclusion, a formality – after losing two wickets in the 1^st over – Jaiswal and Sai Sudarshan getting out without scoring,  KL Rahul and Shubman Gill added 186; then after Gill’s dismissal at 222/4 -  Sundar and Jadeja took the score to 425 !  

We are very happy with the result and more the manner in which it was achieved.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar.  
28.7.2025